We were lucky to catch up with Jeannette George recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jeannette, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

You know, nursing is one of the most rewarding experiences that I’ve had in my life. It comes with many challenges, but the lessons I’ve learned throughout my nearly 10 years of nursing career have benefited me not only in my professional life, but in my personal life as well. Below are some of the many important lessons I’ve learned along the way:

1. Compassion and empathy are crucial qualities for a nurse and anyone who works with vulnerable people. Nurses have to deal with patients who are often scared, anxious, and/or in pain. Being able to provide comfort and support helps improve their experience.

2. Communication is key. Nurses have to communicate effectively with patients and their family, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team. Being able to communicate clearly, concisely, and respectfully is part of being a nurse. This is also true when communicating outside of nursing. Our communication skills aren’t limited at the bedside. We use them in our everyday life.

3. Every patient is special and unique. Nurses deal with individuals from different backgrounds. They must provide care that is tailored to the specific needs of each patient. What works for one patient may not work for another. Being culturally competent and able to recognize the unique characteristics of each patient is one of the best qualities of a nurse.

4. Teamwork is especially essential. Nurses work closely with other healthcare professionals, including doctors, therapists, patients technicians, and even family members. Being able to work collaboratively and support one another is crucial for providing high-quality care.

5. Nursing is a lifelong learning process. Nurses never stop learning. Keeping up with new technologies, procedures, treatments, and guidelines is also part of being a nurse. Nurses must be open to learning from their colleagues and from their patients.

6. Self-care is important, even more now than ever before. The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way nurses view and practice self care. Through the high levels of stress, anxiety, and other challenges that came with the pandemic, nurses, including myself, have learned that they must take care of themselves physically and mentally.  Self care is super important because it helps prevent fatigue and burnout. It also helps improve job satisfaction.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a Family Nurse Practitioner, a mentor, and part Content Creator (an Influencer, if you will). I became a nurse because I wanted to help people and make the world a little bit better. After 7 years of being an RN, I decided to pursue the Nurse Practitioner career because I wanted to be more involved in the decision-making process in regard to patient care. NPs are advanced practice registered nurses who work directly with patients, but function more like physicians. As an NP, I am trained to provide advanced care to patients, including diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, and performing procedures, which is outside of the scope of practice of an RN. Being an NP has allowed me to have more autonomy and independence, which means I can make independent decisions about patient care. Being an NP has also provided more opportunities for career advancement.

Other benefits of being an NP include increased personal and professional fulfillment. The longer I do nursing, the more I find it personally and professionally fulfilling. Everyday I discover a new way to make a positive impact on my patients’ lives and contribute to the healthcare industry as a whole. Whether it is in clinic, in a grocery store, or at home. My work-life balance has also improved mainly because I have more control over my work schedule now than I did as an RN. Overall, becoming an NP has been very rewarding.

When I am not in clinic managing the care of my patients, I create educational materials (videos and posts) for nurses and Nurse Practitioners as well as. I use content creation to teach people about different health and self-care topics. I also use it to advocate for patients as well as my fellow nurses and NPs. A good portion of my creative work involves personal blogging; however, I also do paid partnerships with brands whose ideas are closely related to my niche. As a mentor, I advise and provide support to nurses and aspiring nurses.

My patients and mentees know me for my honesty, authenticity, vulnerability, and positivity. I motivate, encourage, and empower them to be kind, generous, hard-working, and most importantly, to follow their dreams and never give up on themselves.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Success in nursing and advanced nursing practice requires more than just knowledge and training. To be successful in nursing, you must have compassion and empathy. Nurses and NPs work very closely with patients during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. This would be difficult to do without compassion and empathy. Many nurses, including myself, were drawn to nursing because we have a natural ability to connect with other people. We also feel a desire to help alleviate pain and suffering. In fact, we often say that nursing is a calling because it requires a unique combination of skills and traits, including compassion, empathy, selflessness, resilience, and a sense of purpose. Without these, nursing wouldn’t be what it is, a noble profession. Individuals who feel called to nursing often have a deep desire to help others and to make a positive impact in the world.

Any advice for managing a team?

Have you ever heard of the phrase, “it takes a village”? Well, it takes a village to provide safe, efficient, and quality care to each patient whether it is in an inpatient or outpatient setting. With that said, I believe to be able to successfully build and manage a team, it is important to:

1. Set clear goals and expectations from each member of my team and for the entire team as a whole. I try to clearly define the team’s goals and expectations, and communicate them. It is important to make sure everyone in the team understands their roles and responsibilities, and how their work contributes to the team’s overall success.

2. Provide regular feedback in a constructive and timely manner. This helps the team members understand how they’re performing and what they can do to improve. Be open to receiving feedback from them as well.

3. Encourage open communication among team members and make sure each person has a chance to share their ideas and perspectives. Also, try to create a safe space where everyone can feel comfortable to communicate and speak up.

4. Encourage teamwork: Collaboration is key to creating great results. Working together and sharing ideas is a great way to build a strong team while improving productivity and efficacy.

5. Recognize and reward achievements. Recognizing and rewarding your team members for their accomplishments and hard work. This can help increase morale and motivation, and encourage the team to continue working hard, and

6. Be a supportive and empathetic leader. This is a great way to help your team members feel valued and supported. Listen to their concerns and needs, and be flexible and accommodating when possible.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurselavie/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nurselavie
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nurselavie6441

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